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Now that we are in the holiday season, take a look at the variety of programs offered at a branch near you! Take the kids to a storytime with Santa, watch A Christmas Carol live, prepare for holiday meals, and much more.

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Holiday Season Downtown USA

December 17, 2013

When I was younger, it was a tradition in most families to go downtown and look at the decorations and the store windows. If you did not have a car, you rode the bus. This was a tradition that could be found in towns and cities across the United States.

The department store windows had scenes depicting winter and holiday activities, such as children sledding or Santa and his reindeer flying to their next destination. The village scene usually had an electric train (“O” or later “HO” gauge) passing through it. When animatronics were used in the early 1960s, they became more impressive. People were particularly impressed with Harzfeld’s window of Mrs. Claus pulling her fresh baked cookies out of the oven.

Then, there were the decorations up and down the streets. Kansas City had crowns that were found at each intersection and sometimes in the middle of the block. These have been refurbished and can be seen at Zona Rosa.

Comments

It was a tradition for my grand mother to take us by city bus to downtown and walk around looking in all the windows at Christmas time. We were mesmerized at the decorations and how they actually moved! Harzfeld's was usually the best as I remember but Emery Byrd Thayer and Macy's always had great ones too! And then there was the train ride through the Winter Wonderland and to see Santa!!

After all that we would go to Kresge's for lunch at the counter and then my grandma would let us shop for a present for our parents.

I always knew my grandma "BaBa" was the best grandma ever but now when I look back and think how hard and exhausting that must have been on her walking around downtown Kansas city in her dress, hat and heels ( Oh My Goodness!! ) I realize she was just plain awesome!!